Is “Mad Men” the best show on TV? The Power Rankings! will decide. And then some.

For a couple of years now I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a “power ranking” of TV shows. These kinds of lists are quite popular in the sports world (particularly fantasy sports) and the idea behind them is as age-old as making a list of your favorite bands on a cocktail napkin and arguing about the order and the chosen in a bar with friends. And in many ways, The Bastard Machine is kind of like a bar with friends. These “power ranking” lists are highly subjective, of course, but that’s the business I’m in as a professional critic. And if this were some boring Billboard chart based on DVD sales or ratings or demographics or some combination of either, it wouldn’t reward creativity. And at the root of what critics do is this notion that brilliance should be called out – to shine a light on art in an otherwise cookie-cutter heavy industry of copycats, hacks and peddlers of mediocrity.

Plus, it’s fun to argue about lists.

What’s held me back in the past from creating these “power rankings” was basically a spread sheet of some sort what would work in our blog format. Plus someone to create it from the relatively simple ideas I gave them. I was even willing to link to an outside source. Ah, but it never happened, for many and various reasons. Until now. (A special thanks to Jason Snell, who figured out the HTML issues basically in his sleep. Without him, it wouldn’t exist.)

So, on Tuesday, the Bastard Machine will unveil a new weekly feature called, aptly enough, “Power Rankings!” that will list, in order, the Top 15 shows currently on television (meaning still in production – can’t include “The Wire” for example) and currently on the air (can’t include “Breaking Bad” for example). Why Tuesday? Well, because Monday a.m. is when I generally post the “Mad Men” deconstructions and those are pretty popular. In a week or so, I’ll post the weekly “Power Rankings!” on Monday night. Then when “Mad Men” ends its run – will it be No. 1? – I’ll post the current rankings on Monday mornings.

I originally thought I’d exclude reality/unscripted, but decided to include them. But the onus is on them to be particularly intriguing – and, honestly, the odds are stacked against those shows. Scripted television done well is simply superior. But if there’s a really exciting season of “Survivor” or “American Idol” or whatnot, I don’t see any reason it can’t bust into the fabulous fifteen. And yes, the comment section will be a good place to lobby for the cause.

Particularly good storylines can move a show up. Conversely, weak ones can drop a show off the list. For example, “Weeds” probably would have dropped off eventually two seasons ago and not made the list at all last season. Even bad episodes can cause a dip. More than one coupled with a strong showing from another series, and there could be a lot of flux.

Today is the official start to the fall season. I will have some shows in this first week that have yet to air – but I’ve seen them and will review them – that made the list. As new and returning series debut — Emmy winner “30 Rock” anyone? — something else will have to go. So there should be movement all season long. I’ll also list a batch of shows on the “Fringe” of making the list. Among other elements.